We look not only for country information but also for specific details related to the cities and regions we plan to visit. For example, the United States is currently ranked number 32 on the global terrorism index. And the U.S. is currently more dangerous than Tunisia, Kuwait, Uganda, Algeria, and Russia. However, your risk of danger is likely quite different if you’re visiting Hawaii or Alaska than it is if you’re headed to New York City or Washington, D.C. The same thing goes for every country on the planet.

The National Museum of Tunisia at Carthage, where you’ll find Roman ruins from the first millenium BC

Want to play it safe with your travel? Check out the safest countries in the world as ranked by the 2018 Global Peace Index:

As defined by the 2018 Global Peace Index and the World Atlas Global Terrorism Index, the most dangerous countries are currently the following:

Syria

Afghanistan

South Sudan

Iraq

Somalia

Yemen

Libya

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Central African Republic

Russia

Sudan

Ukraine

Pakistan

North Korea

Turkey

Nigeria

Lebanon

Israel

Colombia

However, as previously stated, several of these countries have regions that are currently safe for tourism. We visited Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Lebanon, and Israel in 2018 and encountered no danger whatsoever. In fact, the friendly bear in the first photo is from downtown Kiev, Ukraine.

Bottom line? Do your research, use common sense, and don’t be afraid of the world.

Sunset over the beautiful beach of Beirut, LebanonHolocaust Memorial in Kiev, UkraineColorful shawls and rugs for sale in IsraelMike and Ben with our friends Manwar and Moutasm, two Syrian brothers who we first met in TurkeyDahlias from the collection of the Komarov Botanical Garden in St. Petersburg, Russia